Process and apparatus for finishing and polishing spinning or similar rings



Sept. 29, 1925.

C. F. MERRILL PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR FINISHING AND POLISHING SPINNING 0R SIMILAR RINGS Filed May 12, 1925 3-Sheets-Sheet 1 inventor. Charies F. Merriil AT Tys (:1. F. PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR FINISHING AND POLISHING SPINNING OR SIMILAR RINGS Filed May 12, 1925' I5 Sheets-5heeh 2 Im enmr. (lharies F. errH MERRILL Sept 29,, 1925 Fig.6

lnvenmr. I Chnries F. Merrill Patented Sept. 29, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,555,685 PATENT OFFICE.

enemas r. Mann-nor HOPEDALE, uassacnnsnrrsnssmnoa '10 DRALPER conrom'non, or HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION or MAINE.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR FINISHING AND POLISHING SPTNNIN G OR SIMILAR i r RINGS.

Application filed m 12, 1925. Serial 1T0.'29,800.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. MERRILL, a citizen of the United'states, and a resident of Hopedale, county of Worcester, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement inProcesses and Apparatus for Fin-' ishing and Polishing Spinning or Similiar Rings, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying dra.W-

ing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to the finishing and polishing of certain surfaces of spinning or similar rings where it is important that the surfaces shall be as smooth as possible. The invention in the preferred form herein disclosed is particularly designed for the finishing of certain surfaces of spinning rings.

The object of the invention is to remove The object of the invention is further to provide a process and an a paratus in which the required surfaces of t e ring which extend at an angle to the axis of the ring are thus finished and polished during therotation of the ring by pressing a smooth, hard, metal element against these surfaces and in rubbing this element continuously in the direction of, but across the path of, rotation of the said surfaces, thereby to secure the desired result.

The nature and objects of the invention will appear more fully from the-accompan ing description and drawings and W111 particularly pointed out in the claims.

The drawings illustrate a simple and preferred form of apparatus embodying the invention and adapted to carry; out the process of the invention in the finis ing andpolishing of a welI known standard type of spinning ring, but it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to theparticular shape of ring, nor to the use to which the ring is to be put, and that the said shape of ring is selected for the purpose of illus-= trating the principles of defined by the claims. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a preferred form of apparatus with a spinning ring shown in position in the apparatus.

the invention as Fig. 2 is a view chiefly in vertical, transverse cross section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail chiefly in vertical, transverse cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig.2.

Fig. 4 is a detail in transverse, vertical cross section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 and looking toward the rear. I

Fig. 5 is a detail in plan of a portion of the rear of the machine.

Fig. 6 is a much enlarged view of a 01''- tion of a spinning ring out through to s ow the cross section thereof. a

Fig. 7 is a much" enlarged view in transverse cross section-showing aportion of the spinning ring and the cooperating rollers of the machine at the beginning of the. operation. v

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, showing the parts at the conclusion of the operation.

Fig. 9 is a view similarto Fig. 6 showing a traveler in the position it assumes when eration.

' In the case of a spinning ring, the surfaces for which the highest degree of smoothness and finish is essential are those over which the traveler slides, although it is desirable that the other surfaces shall also be highly finished to prevent rust and the collection of dirt or other foreign matter thereon and to present a pleasing appearance.v

running on the ring during the spinning op- The ordinary type of spinning ring is in the form of an annulus presenting, when the ring is in its normal position on the spinning frame, a vertical web 1, having at the top and bottom the inner flanges 2 and the outer flanges 3. Thus both the inner and outer surfaces of the ring are of general channel shape. The traveler 4 is formed by the well known commercial processes to present a regular and uniform internal contour finished to a high degree of smoothness. In order that this traveler, which slides at a very high speed around the ring and is held outward against the inner flange of the ring by centrifugal force and upward by tension of the thread being spun, shall move freely on the ring with the minimum friction, ,it is essential that the portion of the traveler sliding on the ring shall touch the ring at all points of its normal engagement and that the surfaces thus touched shall be finished to the highest possible degree of smoothness.

Spinning rings are commonly turned or cut by specially formed cutters from annular blanks of steel of the grade commonly termed soft, mild or low carbon. After the rings are properly formed, they are treated by a case-hardening process to render the surface hard and wear resisting, leaving the interior or core of the ring relatively soft, thus to avoid excessive brittleness. The required finish of the ring surfaces is usually secured by scouring and brightening with abrasive of variousdegrees of fineness applied by Various methods with the object of securing the desired smoothness and finish.

But it is found in practice that the turning or cutting operation employed in forming the ring leaves the surface of the ring covered with certain irregularities or.:"tool marks in the form of parallel ridges or grooves of more or less perceptible magniture. It is practically impossible to prevent.

the formation of these irregularities or striations, no matter how carefully the cutters be formed and sharpened, because minute particles of steel attach themselves to the cutting edge and score the surface While the usual scouring and polishing with abrasives after the steel is hardened modifies to some extent these irregularities, yet if this operation be continued in an attempt to eliminate these irregularities, one or more, or all, of the following detrimental effects results; (1) the contour of the ring surface is deformed, (2) a valuable portion of the hardened surface is worn away, (3) the merubbing, and pressing by a smooth, hard,

inside, are arranged in pairs.

metal element. Since practically all the surfaces of the usual form of ring, and especially those surfaces over which the traveler slides, extend at an angle to the axis of the ring, the required rubbing and pressingac tion of this invention is secured by a plurality of rollers between which the ring is fed. The rollers at the opposite sides of the ring annulus, that is, at the outside and the face, or a'portion thereof, at but one side If the sur-;

of the ring is to be finished, then any suitable means may be employed at the opposite side to produce the relative radial pressure. The rollers of each pair are mounted transversely in juxtaposition and the peripheral surface of the pair of rollers, when the rollcm are together, has a radial cross section inversely identical with the desired radial cross section of the surfaces of the ring to be finished and polished. The rollers of each pair are pressed together yieldingly by a heavy force and means are provided, as by the opposed pair of rollers, to force the ring during the rotation of the rollers into seating contact withthe rollers. The rollers, preferably but one pair, are rotated, so that where they engage the ring, they, together with the ring, move in the same direction. As the ring is thus forced into seating engagement with the peripheries of the rollers and the rollers are forced together, a peculiar rubbing action on the ring takes place. Each roller rubs continuously in the direction of rotation of the ring and across the path of the rotation of the ring, so that all surfaces in contact with a roller which extend atan angle to the axis of the ring are pressed and rubbed by the smooth, hard, metal element of the rollers, while any surfaces which extend parallel with the axis that are engaged by the rollers are pressed.

The result of this peculiar rubbing action is to produce a highly finished, smooth surface on those surfaces of the ring extending at an angle to the axis of the ring and acted upon by the rollers. The metal of the ring flows under the pressure of the rollers and the crests of the ridges. irregularities or striations are flattened down into a smooth, regular surface of a fineness governed by the surface of the rollers themselves. The peripheral cross section of the ring is forced into conformation with the peripheral cross section of the rollersfithe ring thus receiving a contour of the same degree of perfection as the contour of the rollers themselves. A suitable lubricant is employed and as a result, a bright, lustrous finish is imparted to the ring surface. The surface of the ring thus acted upon by the rollers is made more dense than in its original state and its wearing qualities are improved. Furthern'iore, the imperfections of surface due to inclusions are practically eliminated. The commercial steel from which such rings are formed contains more or less nonmetallic impurities, existing as attenuated streaks or preponderance of metallic surface, is dotted lll" A hardened ring, therefore, while having a tion of the ring surfaces acted upon, is to or lined by more or less minute areas which are of a different composition, textureand degree of hardness from the major. portion of the surface. T his'condition is obviously.

detrimental to the uniform andeven wear ing qualities of the ring when subjected to the action ofthe traveler. By .the present process, the flow of metal under the peculiar produce a veryhigh degree of smoothness shaft- 10.

- and finish on the surfaces of the rin while at the same time insuring the required accurate contour of the ring surfaces.

The apparatus illustrated in the drawings presents a simple and referred form of means for carrying out t e main principles of the invention which have thus been generall set forth and is es ecially adapted for the finishing of the sur aces of a spinning lln a? suitable base 5 is provided around its eriphery with an upturned flange 6, thus orming a receptacle to receive the lubricant employed and from which, if desired, the

lubricant may be pumped back to the point of application. I

()n this base is mounted, by means of the screws 7, a vertical frame 8 presenting aligned shaft bearings 9. In these bearings is ,mounted ashaft 10 and to the shaft, be-

tween the bearings, is secured, by means of, a set screw 11, a pulley or other driven element- 12 to which power is'imparted from a suitable source. A collar 13 atone end of the 'shaft and lock nuts 14 at the other end prevent longitudinal movement of the shaft in its bearings. A cylindrical arbor 15, having a conical shank 16'v is frietionall-y held in an airialflconical. aperture in the end of the In the illustrated construction, the rollers or finishing elements are desi ed to act upon, substantially one-half o the inside surface of the ring and one-half of the outside surface of the ring. Owing. to the symof any suitable diameter.

metrical shape'ofthe ring flanges, after onehalf. of the surface of the rin has been finished, the ,rin may beshifte laterally and the, other he! finished in the same manner. One pair of, rollers are of less diameter than the ring, so that they may operate upon the inner surface, while'the otherpair may be inner surface of the rin are mounted upon the-arbor 15. These rol ers 17 and 18 are of The pair. of rollers for operating upon the similar shape and are mounted upon the arbor to rotate therewith. .For this purpose pins 19 and 20 project radially from the arbor 15 and enter transverse slots in the rollers. The roller 17 seats against aoollar 21- on the arbor. A sleeve 22 onthe arbor seats against the roiler 18. A powerful helical spring 23 is mounted on the arbor between the sleeve 22 and a nut 24 threaded onto'the'end of the arbor. Thus it will be seen that the rollers 17 and 18 which are thus transversely juxtaposed upon the arbor may separate against the pressure ofthe spring 23, but Will be constantly forced together by the same pressure of this spring.

In the particular machineillustrated, the rollers 17 and 18 are-exactly alike or duplis cates,'but are placed upon the arbor in reversed position. This can be done because the ring to be finished, as will be seen from: t

Fig. 6, is. symmetrical with respect to the central, transverse plane 25-25 and because each flange 2 is symmetrical with respect to the central transverse planes 2 6-26. The

periphera surfaces of the rollers 17 and 18 when toge her, as shownin Fig. 8, extendmg from the plane 27 to theplane 28. of the roller 17 and from the plane 29 to the plane 30 of the roller 18, have a-radial cross section, as seen in Figs. 7 and 8', inversely identical with the desired radial crosssection, as seen in Fig. 8, of the inner surfaces of the one-half of the ring to'be finished'and p01- ished. .Hence, byshifting the ring laterally,

"the other half o fthe inner surfaces of the ring may be'finished with the same rollers because the peripheral surface of the roller 18 from the plane 31 to the plane 29 and of the roller 17 from the plane 28 to the-plane 32 will have a radial cross section inversely identical with the desired radial cross sec 'tion of the other half of the inner surface of the ring. The extent to which the peripheral surfaceof either or both rollers is thus accurately shaped depends upon the extentof-the surface of the ring which it a vis desired to finish and polish. One roller may, in'fact, constitute simply a revolving abutment if the surface to be finished and polished'is entirely opposite the peripheral surface of the other roller.

The ring must be'forced by heavy pressure during the rotation of the rollers into seating contact therewith, and if only the inner surface of thering is to be finished and polished, that is, if only either, or both, I

of the rollers 17 and 18 is to function, then any suitable means may be employed to force the ring against the rollers. But if, as in the illustrated chse, it is desired to finish and polish the outer surface of the ring, then p :a similar pair of rollers is employed at the outer surface of the ring and these rollers are utilized as the means for pressing the ring against the rollers 17 and 18.

Any suitable means may be provided for mounting and operating the outer pair of rollers. In the construction illustrated, a

bifurcated arm 33 is pivotally mounted at.

and 18 under all conditions, provision is made for bodily, lateral side playv of the outer rollers. Forthis purpose, the arm 33 at the rear is slightly narrower than the space between the bifurcations of the standard 35, and again a bushing 37 is provided on the shaft 36 which is slightly narrower than the space between the bifurcations of the arm 33. v

A simple and preferred construction. for securing the transverse separation and yielding pressure between the outer rollers is illustrated in detail in Fig. '3. A- hub 38, 1

presenting. a flange. 39 at one end, has a driving fit on the sleeve 37. One of the outer rollers 40 fits over the hub 38 and. is rigidly secured thereto by screws 41 entering from the flange 39. The other roller 42' fits over the hub 38, but has a conical bore so that it, will notbind on the hub as it is forced toward and from the roller 42. A thick, elastic cushion, shown as a washer 43 of rubber or suitable material, is seatedon the 'hub against the outer face of the roller 42, and a metal washer 44' at the opposite side of the cushion 43 isadjustably secured to the roller 40 by the screws 45. The apertures in the roller 42, through which the screws 45 pass, are larger than the screws to allow the free movement of the roller 42. It will thus be seen that by properly-constructing. and proportioning the: cushion 43 and adjusting the screws 45, the required transverse pressure between the rollers 40 and 42 may be secured.

The configuration of the effective peripheral surfaces of the rollers 40 and 42 will be governed according to the principles already outlined by the desired contour of the outer surfacesof the ring to be'finished 'and'polished.

The arm 33 is provided at its forward end with a handle46. The operator places the" ring to be polished in position over the rollers 17 and .18 with the flange of the ring, seated between the rollers, and then swingsthe arm 33 upwardly until therrollers .40 and .42 straddle the outerfian'ge of the ring.

The'shaft'lfi is set in motion, thus causing the rollers 17 and 18 to revolve'as in the continued or varied by suitable degrees until the flanges. of the ring are brought, into seating contact with both rollers. While this is going on, the rubbing and pressing action takes place, owing to the pressure exerted by the one pair of rollers toward the other and by the members of each pair of rollers transversely toward each other. It will be seen that-all the surfaces of the ring engaged by the respective rollers, and which extend at an angle tothe axis of the ring, are rubbed by the rollers continuously in the direction of, but across the path of, rotation f of the roller surfaces. A suitable lubricant is fed as b the pipe 47 onto the contacting surfaces 0 the rollers and rings. The result is, as already described in detail, to

produce the required highly smooth and fin-g ished surfaces on thering.

If desired, the required pressure may be applied to the arm 33 more or less automatically. For example, a standard 48 is shown secured by screws 49 to the base 1. The upper arm 50 of this standard overlies the arm 33 and is provided with a limiting adjustable set screw 51 threaded through a split portion of the arm.50, so that when the screw 51 is adjusted, it may be locked in adjusted position by the set screw 52. A.

powerful, \helical spring 53 is seated at its lower end over a stud 54 on the standard and at itsupper end over a stud 55 on the arm 33. With this construction, after the arm 46 has been depressed and the ring inserted, the spring 53 is utilized to force the arm 33 upwardly and secure the seating pressure of the rollers against the ring.

-It will be observed thatduring the opera-- 'tion of the apparatus and in carrying out e axis of the ring being fin ished is always parallel with the axis of 'rothe process, t

tation of the roller or rollers which are performing the peculiar rubbing and pressing action on the required surfaces of the ring, and that-the ring andthe roller or rollers where they en age are traveling in the same direction. ThIS insures that the rubbing ac-.

vtion on the ring takes place continuously in the direction of rotation and also across the ath of rotation of the ring, thus giving the desired finish to these surfaces of the ring being acted upon which are at an angle to or not parallel with, the axis of rotatlon o the ring.

The roller or rollers, the peripheral Bur-.

I faces of which impart the desired finish, are

made with the in best degree of accuracy of a high grade 0% steel much harder than the unhardened ring. The peripheral contour of the ring is determined by the rollers so that a cross section of the ring'of extremely accurate and uniform shape results. While the operation, involving, as it does, some re-distrlbution of the metal of the ring,may alter to a slight extent the diameter of the ring, this is, to the extent that it occurs, unimportant in the case of spinning rings and may be offset in the size to which the ring blank is originally cut.

As has been noted, and depending upon the extent and configuration of the inner or outer surface of the ring which is to be finished, one or both rollers may perform the peculiar rubbing and ressing action on the ring at either orboth t e inner and outer surfaces. But each roller that acts upon the ringmust be forced. relatively to the ring in both a radial and transverse direction and consequently must be opposed in' both these directions by another roller or a suitable abutmenttoqenable it to perform its function. a a

The most satisfactory speed of rotation for the roller or rollers will readily be determined in practice, but'it has'been found that in finishing the ordinary t of spinning ring specifically referre to herein, that a surface speed of 200 linear feet per minute at the periphery of the rollers produces highly satisfactory results. It is also found that by the time the ring has been forced into seating contact with the roller or rollers, the operation is completed.

Having thus described "the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. An apparatus for finishing and polishing certain surfaces of a spinning or similar ring comprising a pair of rotatabl mounted transversely juxtaposed rollers, t e peripheral surfaces of whlch, when together, have a radial cross section inversely identical with the desired radial cross section of the surfaces of the ring to be finished and polished, means permitting the rollers to separate and acting yieldin 1y to force them together, and means to force the ring during the rotation of the rollers into seatin contact therewith, whereby the surfaces 0 .the ring extending at aneangle to its axis are simultaneously rubbed and ressed and the surfaces extending paral e1 to its axis are pressed to produce the required finish.

2. An apparatus for finishing and polishing certain interior surfaces of a spmning or similar ring comprising a pair of rotatably mounted transversely 'uxtaposed rollers of less diameter than t e ring and located within the rin the peripheral surfaces of the rollers, wi 11 together, havinga across the radial cross section inversely identical with the desired radial cross section of the interior surfaces of the ring to be finished and polished, means permitting the rollers to separate and acting yieldingly to force them together, and means located externally of the ring to force the ring during the rotation of the rollers into seating contact therewith, whereby the interior surfaces of the ring to be polished, which extend at an angle to its axis, are simultaneously rubbed and pressed and the surfaces which extend parallel to its axis are pressed to produce the, required finish.

3. An apparatus for finishing and polishing certain interior surfaces of a spinning or similar ring comprising a rotatable arbor, means for rotating the arbor, a pair of simi-- lar, transversely juxtaposed rollers of less diameter than the'ring mounted upon, and rotatable with, the arbor, the peripheral surfaces of the rollers, when together, having a radial cross section inversely identical with the desired radial cross section of the said inner surfaces of the finished .ring, means permitting the rollers to separate and acting yieldingly to force them together, and means located externally of the rin -to-force the ring during the rotation of t e rollers into seating contact therewith, whereby the interior surfaces of the ring to be polished, which extend at an angle to its axis, are simultaneously rubbed and pressed and the surfaces which extend parallel to its axis are pressed to produce the required finish.

4. An apparatus for finishing and polishing certain interior surfaces of a channelshaped spinning or similar ring comlprisin a pair of transversely juxtaposed ro ers 0% less. diameter thanthe ring, the peripheral surfaces of which, when together have a radial cross section inversely identical with the desired radial cross ,section of the surface of the inner flange,"of the inner angle and of the web adjacent thereto, means nmitting the rollers to separate and ac ing yieldingly to force them together, and means located externally o'f-the rin to force the ring during the rotation of t e rollers into seating contact therewith, whereby the interior surfaces of the ring to be polished, which extend at an angle to its axis, are

simultaneousl rubbed and pressed and the extend at an angle to the axis of t e ring I which consists, while the ring is rotating, in pressing a smooth, hard, metal element against said surfaces and in rubbing the said element continuously in the direction of, but

path of, rotation of the said surfaces.

6. The process of finishing and polishing ring which consists in simultaneously forc-i ing toward eaehother and radially of the interposed ring, while the ring and the said surfaces are rotatin about parallel axes, opposed, smooth, har metal surfaces of revolution which, when together, have 'a radial cross section inversely identical with the desired cross section ofthe surfaces of the ring to be finished and polished, whereby the surfaces of the ring extending at an angle to its axis are simultaneously rubbed and pressed and the surfaces extending parallel to its axis are pressed to produce the required finish. v-

7, An apparatus for finishing and polishing certain surfaces of a spinnin ,or similarri'ng comprismg a pair of rotatab y mounted,

transversely juxtaposed rollers, theperi heral surface of one of which has a-ra ial 7 cross section inversely identicalwith the-desired radial cross section of thesuriaces .of

the ring to be finished-and polished thereby:i

means'permitting the rollers to separate an acting yieldingiy to force themtogetheg, and 0 re 9. Ion

means to force the ring during t meanmto force the ring during t 8. An apparatus for' finishing and polish-- ing certainsurfaces-of a spinning or similar ring comprising an abutment and a trans versely juxtaposed roller, the peripheral surface of the roller having a radial crosssec-- tion inversely identical with the desired radial cross section of the surfaces of the ring to be finished and %olished, means permitting the roller. and a utment to separate and actmgyieldingly to'force them together, and

e rotation of theroller' into seat ng contact with the abutment and the roller while maintaining the axes of the ring and roller parallel,

whereby the surfaces of the ring extending at an angle to its axis and engaged by the peripheral surface of the roller are slmultaneously rubhed and pressed.

. In testimony whereof, I have signed my cification.

HABLES F. MERRILL;

name to this 

